Today’s mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, are no longer just a device to make calls, send text messages, or organise our personal calendars. They are mobile computers that allow us to access email, browse the web and perform online transaction. It is essentially a window to the world.
Mobile device vendors release new models with better features and functionalities once every few months. This entices users to get their hand on the latest model to enjoy state-of-the-art mobile experience. As users purchase these new mobile devices, what will happen to their old ones?
If you dispose, trade-in or pass on your old mobile devices without removing the information in it, you could potentially expose your personal, sensitive and organisation specific information. During the day-to-day usage of our mobile devices, personal and sensitive information such as our contacts; messages, web browsing and GPS locations; photos, music and videos; and even login ID and passwords to emails, websites and social media accounts may be stored.
Deleting files and information from mobile devices does not remove them from your device. The data continues to reside in your mobile devices’ storage memory for as long as it is not overwritten by other new data.
What Should You Do Before Disposing Your Mobile Devices
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Factory Reset Simply deleting your files and data from your mobile devices does not remove the information completely. You should perform a “factory reset” to remove all files and data from your mobile device and bring it back to the state when it was freshly produced from the factory. Not all model devices operating systems deemed information stored in your mobile device unreadable after you perform a “factory reset.” Information can still be recovered unless the operating system encrypts all files stored by default, and performing a “factory reset” destroys the encryption key to the encrypted files. Check out your mobile device’s manual to find out how you can perform a “factory reset” on your mobile devices. |
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Remove your External Storage Media A number of mobile devices allow the storage of data on external storage media (e.g. SD cards, mini SDs or micro SDs) to provide more storage space. External storage media are usually used to store files such as your photos, music, videos, and many other personal information. Never dispose your mobile devices together with the external storage media. If you are not reusing them, either perform a secure erasure on it or destroy it physically! |
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Physically Destroy your SIM Card Performing “factory reset” on your mobile device does not remove information stored in your SIM card. If you are not reusing your SIM card from your old mobile device on your newly acquired gadget, destroy it physically by shredding it! |